A burglar was arrested after an inquisitive neighbor contacted police when she heard loud banging inside the residence next door.

Officers Miguel Silva and Tim O’Connor responded to the residence in the 1100 block of West 6th Street after receiving a 911 reporting a burglary. Upon their arrival they observed the defendant, Joseph Scales, attempting to exit through the front door of the residence with a sledgehammer in his hand. Scales was taken into custody without incident.

An investigation indicates that the neighbor heard loud banging noises coming from the vacant residence next to her. She looked out her porch window and observed Scales hanging out of a second floor window trying to dislodge a downspout with a sledgehammer. When confronted, Scales claimed to be a contractor. Refusing to be fooled by this ruse, the neighbor promptly contacted police who responded and took Scales into custody.

Scales was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 20 and released after posting a $300 unsecured bond.